Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-01-07


ton as to wages and hours Of labor of the
laboring masses of our citizens, TO protect
their rights in the hope of lettering their
condition, TO demonstrate against conditions
which seem inevitably to tend TO narrowing
the field and lowering the standard of labor,
skilled or unskilled, IN any civilized nation
or community, strikes are the most natural
agencies of self-defense.
1t is but a natural emotion to
sympathize with the earnest efforts Of Ia
boring men to better their condition and
to share literally in the gains of
labor in its vast field of useful
ness and in the blessings it bestows upon
mankind. Potent as the strike
may seem TO be as an agency to bring about
a better understanding of the claims and the
rights Of labor, the moment it departs from
the admitted power ii yields as a peaceable
remedy, and puts on the appearance of open
resistance TO law, or sets itself up 10 say ~ no
shall and who shall not work in the vast field
of labor, it to a large extent forfeits the
sympathy Of that large class Of thinking
people who believe in fair dealing and a
fair field for the play Of the energies
Of man, and viii drive from its support con
siderats and earnest men, willing advocates
OF all it claims 50 long as, like other great
interests, it seeks to gain its ends by peace
able means and in accustomed ways. In this
country the pubic ear is open 10 the persua-
sions of reason; IL is lnStluctively closed
against force. And that cause will flourish
most naturally and inevitably which relies
upon the support that reason and free dis
cusSion always bring to its aid. The forego-
ing remarks were suggested from the fact
that strikes IN every instance have led TO what
seemed a necessity to resort to the military
in aid Of the civil power of the state.
The question of convict labor is next dis
cussed. The governor alludes to the anti
convict labor amendment to the constitution
adopted at the recent election and of this he
says:
This radical departure will impose upon
your honorable bodies the necessity of pro
viding by law how the labor OF the convicts
III our prisons and reformatories shall be
utilized SO as not 10 become a standing charge
upon the treasury OF the state. Either such
criminals are 20 ba hereafter supported in all
respects as criminals in civilized nations, with
due regard to the moral and Christion senti-
ments Of the age in which W. live, in idle
ness or they are instead Of becoming n
charge upon taxes collected from honest peo-
pie, TO be made selfsupporting.
The shot drill, treadmill, hiring of con-
victS for work on public improvements and
the leasing system he does not think the peo-
pie of the state will tolerate, and adds:
do not believe the people will endure for
any great length Of time any tentative or
puerile system, or one which will bs consid
cred as excusing idleness in convicts, Or great
expense to the state. In any event large ap-
preparations seem Indispensable TO inaugurats
any new scheme. The fault of the last at
tempt of the state to run q penitentiary on
state account was largely attributed to the
limited appropriations allowed for the pur-
pose Ii the state is TO become competitor
in the field of trade and commerce with indi-
vidual enterprises for the sale of It's manu-
featured products, 10 must equip itself with
abundance of means to meet every contn-
| gency of trade, as every other manufacturer
| is obliged to do, or reconcile itself to con-
slant and very considerable annualloSs Even
| under the most favorable management it is
| gravely TO be doubted II the state account
| plan can ever be made self-sustaining.
| The revenue question is dealt with at
length, and the difficulty OF establishing a
satisfactory system of taxation dwelt upon.
| Governor Oglesby thinks the present prac-
| tice is wretched although the theory is
sound The annual appraisement of prop
erty for taxation has become almost dis
graceful, and it is suggested revenue for
state purposes might be raised from property
not of strictly local character. II this
could be done the governor thinks the coun-
ties and municipalities would stop the alb
slIrdly low appraisement and high rate Of
| taxation and adopt the just and sensible one
| of fair cash valuation AMI low rates OF taxa.
ton
The present system is pronounced viciou'
| in the extreme, and he invites the attention
of the legislature to the report of the reve-
nue. commission appointed by the last legis
lature, of which he speaks very highly. de
claring that the code proposed by the com
mission:
Substantially divorces the state from
county and all subordinate tax-levying pow
ers for purposes of revenue. 1t leaves to al
such local and subordinate powers ample re
sources and means OF taxation for all the pur
poses of local self-government. 1t enlarge
| and greatly improves the means and instru
| ments for assessing aud collecting such loca
| taxes and provides. as has never been dom
before by our revenue laws, for more Ger
tainly securing fair cash valuation and as
seSsment of all property in all localities, anC
for bringing 70 light, listing and taxing per
sonal property, credits, shares of stock. an,
the various evidences intangible and bidder
wealth. ard TO that extent relieving real as
tate and visible personal property from tn
undue proportions such property has hereto
fore been compelled to bear
the governor recommends that an appropria
ton he made to pay the commissioners fol
their services for the time actually deyotec
TO their duties. and advocates the appropria
ton of 500 900 to be used by the commissio'
in eradicating cattle plaques when in shal
be necessary. The state benevolent, chart
table and commercial institutions are brief,
referred to and the message closes with
brief eulogy of Gen. Logan and referenC
to the necessity of selecting his successor.
The amount of ali funds in the state treas
ury Oct !, 1881, was as follows:
General revenue fund -........--.. s., II, 586.t
State school fund .-.-,-.-.-.---.-... lSZa.t
Delinquent land tax fund .-.-..-.. 1914
| Unknown and minor heirs fund 1854
| Local bond fund .---.--.---.---. 5l9,JE.t
Total sh.'tt-,9ii. 4
The estimated appropriations for the veal
1887 and 1883 were in the neighbOrhood {
81, G2i G10
Proceedings in the Legislature.
SPRINGFIELD, Ills, Jan. THE state sci
ate passed resolutions Thursday eulogistic {
! o., l sorrau- at hi